Songwriter Ashford Dies at Age 70

Nick Ashford, half of the Motown songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson that penned songs for Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Chaka Khan and others, died Monday at age 70, his former publicist said.

Mr. Ashford, who along with wife, Valerie Simpson, wrote some of Motown's biggest hits, died in a New York City hospital, said publicist Liz Rosenberg, who was Mr. Ashford's longtime friend. He had been suffering from throat cancer and had undergone radiation treatment, she told the Associated Press.Though they had some of their greatest success at Motown with classics like "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Reach Out And Touch Somebody's Hand" by Ms. Ross, Ashford & Simpson also created anthems for others like "I'm Every Woman" by Ms. Khan (and later remade by Whitney Houston). Mr. Ashford and Ms. Simpson had success writing for themselves as well. Perhaps the best-known song they sang was the 1980s hit "Solid As A Rock."